From half-marathons to healthy kitchens, Zimbabwe’s largest health group is shaping the future of healthcare, one initiative at a time.
By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Harare — When thousands of people laced up their running shoes in Harare last weekend for the Cimas iGo Half-Marathon, it wasn’t just about the race.
It was about reimagining healthcare — not within hospital walls, but in the streets, kitchens, and daily choices of Zimbabweans.
For 80 years, Cimas Health Group has been at the centre of Zimbabwe’s health journey. But in the last decade, the organisation has pivoted towards something much more transformative: preventative healthcare, lifestyle wellness, and community-based innovation.
As Cimas celebrates 80 years, it’s timely to reflect on how this health giant is helping the country shift from reactive healthcare to holistic wellbeing — while empowering people with knowledge, tools, and access along the way.
A Decade of iGo: A Wellness Programme That Works
Launched in 2015, the iGo wellness programme was initially designed to promote healthy lifestyles among Cimas members. A decade later, it has evolved into a national movement that has touched tens of thousands of lives.
From fitness boot camps and biometric screenings to wellness education and mental health awareness, iGo is now the gold standard of corporate wellness in Zimbabwe.
“We realised early that treating illness alone wasn’t enough. We needed to keep people well before they got sick,” said Mr. Vuli Ndlovu, CEO of Cimas Health Group. “The iGo platform allows us to do just that — to promote health, not just manage disease.”
In an era where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer are rising, iGo offers a preventative approach — backed by science, powered by community, and sustained by data.
Running for Lives: The iGo Half-Marathon
This year’s iGo Half-Marathon took on even greater significance. Held during Movember, a month dedicated to men’s health awareness, the Harare race drew over 1,500 participants and raised funds for cancer treatment and support services through the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ).
“This partnership goes back years,” said Mrs. Junior Mavu, General Manager of CAZ. “With Cimas’ support, we’re able to provide chemotherapy drugs, food hampers, fuel for patient follow-ups, and even grief counselling. It’s saving lives.”
Cimas’ Chief Marketing Officer, Mrs. Tatenda Madzikanda, says the marathon is part of a broader mission to change attitudes and behaviours around health — especially among men.
“Our goal is awareness that leads to action. If one man decides to get screened for prostate cancer because of this event, then we’ve succeeded,” she said.
Innovation in the Everyday: Health Starts in the Kitchen
One of the most quietly powerful tools in Cimas’ wellness arsenal isn’t a machine or a medicine — it’s a recipe book.
As part of its iGo wellness programme, Cimas developed a wellness recipe book that features affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant meals tailored for the Zimbabwean palate. The aim is simple: empower people to take charge of their health through everyday habits.
With practical guidance on portion sizes, balanced diets, and local ingredient substitutes, the book is used in nutrition classes, corporate wellness programmes, and even family kitchens.
It’s a reminder that healthcare transformation doesn’t always require high-tech innovation. Sometimes, it starts with what’s on your plate.
From Treatment to Transformation
As Zimbabwe continues to face a complex mix of public health challenges — from rising NCDs to mental health gaps — the story of Cimas Health Group is a blueprint in how to evolve from a health insurance provider to a health transformation partner.
By combining preventative care, wellness promotion, and community innovation, Cimas is not just treating patients — it’s helping shape a healthier, stronger Zimbabwe.
And that is a story worth celebrating — on the track, at the table, and in every newsroom across the nation.
About Author
